Band : Atlas Losing Grip
Album title : State Of Unrest
Label : Black Star Foundation
Distributor : Black Star Foundation
Release date : 28/05/2011
Release : CD

As mentioned in my review (posted 24/10/2008, and still available for any fact-finding needs – to which I can now ad the fact that the band released a 2006 demo and 2007 promo prior to their album) of this Lund based Swedish SurfPunk act's 2008 debut album Shut The World Out, the guys set out on a 17-day European tour, which was received warmly by the in-crowd.

After the tour lead singer/ bassist Stefan Bratt, who'd never comfortable at playing his instrument at the same time as singing leads, decided to step down from that frontman spot, and the band asked Rodrigo Alfaro [former Satanic Surfer member, now the drummer with Enemy Alliance (band which Bratt is also part of, remember)...whom had already sang along on some of the debut album's songs] whether he would he interested in the job. With his ready acceptance to join the band had their new singer, with whom they immediately started to rehearse 5 new songs. It sounded so amazing that they put it on the EP Watching The Horizon, which was released in Europe and Japan 2009 (but regrettably did not pass by the Concreteweb headquarters. Several tours followed. First the guys did a “European” tour, playing gigs in Germany, Holland, and Belgium. Secondly there was a 3-date trip to Greece. Eventually the band supported Bad Religion on their Scandinavian tour during late Summer 2010. Of course, in between the band did loose gigs, and they finished their touring for the EP with a couple of festival appearances. After that, and driven by the anticipation which had been generated by the excellent reviews the EP had gotten, the band secluded itself in the rehearsal room to write the 13 songs which were to end up on the new full-length. They started recording the material on Dec. 25, and put the finishing touches to it on February 8 (meaning they took almost 7 weeks to get the job done), before sending the “master tapes” (these days they're really data files, aren't they...but don't you think the old mannerisms sound so cute after all?) to the Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado...where the renowned Jason Livermore did the mastering of the album.

That was really a good decision, because the outcome is simply great! Funny also, that Bad Religion comes in the tale due to the band supporting 'em on their 2010 Scandinavian tour...because as I was listening to the album over and over again yesterday (with not an inkling of boredom building up, even after the 10th time) I was inwardly smiling at how much the two bands sound alike, mainly thanks to the new frontman! And the lyrical combination of personal and social issues (stuff most listeners will be able to relate to in more than one case) works well too. At any rate, fans of fast-paced Melodic Punk Rock/ SurfPunk should have a field day on this album, as the band itself can stand its own next to the bigger names in the genre. Big words? Hey, why don't you check it out for yourself then? Just listen to the songs posted at (www.) myspace.com/atlaslosinggrip (only “Different Hearts, Different Minds” and the video to “All In A Days Work” are from the new album, the other 4 audio files are from the EP). For some more (comparative) material, check the band's page at Last.fm (find the link on the band's own website (www.) atlaslosinggrip.se), where you'll find samples of songs off the 2006 and 2007 demo and promo, all 5 songs of the EP, and all songs off the debut full-length.

The band already went on a Spring tour, which started o March 30 and ended on May 22, and took the band to stages in Germany (a lot of those), Austria, Slovenia, Italy, and again Germany...with 3 days (17-19/05) in Belgium (darn, they were even at Leuven's Sojo on the 19th...and the fact simply passed me by – ach well, I was working that night anyway!). To all of you who díd capture the band on that tour...I slightly envy you...but then again the band has announced they would be doing some extensive touring on the album, so there's a good chance they'll be passing by a second time (follow the band on their Internet pages to find out what they're up to next). As far as this album goes, it is définitely an improvement from their debut, and therefore deserves the far higher rating of...

92/100

Tony.